Benjamin g



(No Model.)

- B. G. DBVOE.

Metallic Fence.

No. 234,257. Patented Nov. 9,1880.

N.PETERS. mo

To-umusmmen. WASHINGTON. D

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN G. DEVOE, OF KENTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO ALBERT O. RAMSEY, OF SAME PLACE.

METALLIC FENCE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 234,257, dated November 9, 1880.

Application filed August 14, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. Devon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenton, in the county of Hardin and State of Ohio,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of fences i 5 technicallytermed punched-rail fences and itconsists in devices for securing the pickets to the stringers, and in providing means whereby said stringers and pickets may be adjusted relatively to each other to any desired grade,

so that all the pickets in one or more panels will assume a Vertical position whatever may be the line of deviation of said stringers from a horizontal line when the fence is erected on an incline or gradient, and in combination 2 5 therewith of means whereby the position of the stringers on the pickets--that is to say, the distance between the strin gersis determined, so that the topand bottom of all the pickets will be on the same level, all as hereinafter 0 more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of so much of a fence as will be necessary to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is an under-side view of the same. Fig.

5 3 are sections of a round and square picket. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent, respectively, front elevations, plan views, and vertical transverse sections of the two members of a sectional clamp for round pickets; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent like views of the same arranged for square pickets.

In the above figures of drawings like letters of reference are employed to indicate like parts wherever such may occur.

4 5 A represents the stringer or cross-rail, of the usual or any preferred form, provided at points equidistant from each other with elongated slots at.

B are the pickets, which may be round or square, or of any other shape, provided at a given distance from their upper and lower ends with conical recesses b.

(J 0 represent two sections of a clamp having a semicircular aperture, 0, in the top plate when said clamp is used in conjunction with cylindrical pickets, as shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and with rectangular apertures when said clamps are used in conjunction with square pickets.

The thickness of the top plate, 0, of the clamp-sections C G, at the aperture 0, is beveled or made flaring from top downward, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 9.

The part 0 of the clamp is provided at the center of the semicircular aperture with acon- 6 ical lug, c and with two pendent cars, 0 as shown in Figs. at and 5, when the clamp is used for a round picket and when the clamp is used for a square picket the lug is applied at the apex of the angular opening. The part 0 of the clamp is, like part C, also pro vided with an outwardly and downwardly flaring semicircular or rectangular aperture, and with a pendent bearing-plate, 0 against which the picket abuts, and which tends to hold said picket firmly in position. It is further provided with two pendent ears, the same as the section (3 of the clamp.

If desired, these ears 0 may be dispensed with, as when this part of the clamp is driven around the picket into the slot to tighten the parts together the wedge-power of said section 0 will be suflicient to hold it down in position. Such form of clamp-section is shown in Fig. 7, the clamp being here constructed for use with a square picket, and also as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of these devices, in combination with a stringer and pickets, may be briefly described as follows:

When a fence is to be erected the stringer or cross-rails are first properly adjusted upon the line-posts, the recess in the pickets giving the proper distance at which said stringers are to be arranged on said line-posts or, it desired, the panels may be completed before 5 hanging them on the line-posts, and this is accomplished in the following manner: The part 0 of the clamp is first inserted into the slot a of one of the stringerssay the top stringer. The picket is then slipped in until the conical stud c on the clamp-section (J has entered the recess b. The section 0 is then driven into the slot on the opposite side of the picket and the lugs or cars c clinched orbent over the under face of the stringer, as shown in Fig. 2, when the picket will be securely held in position, the same being done with the lower rail or stringer, am], it necessary, with a third or intermediate stringer, according to the height of the fence; and when the panel is thus completed it maybe attached or hung on the line-post.

It will be seen that by means of this construction and arrangement of clamp, picket, and stringer, all measuring and aligning or leveling of the pickets to determine the dis tance between the stringers and to bring their upper and lower extremities on a common level with each other is done away with, as the recesses b on the picket form guides by means of which the stringers are spaced and the pickets leveled, while the slots in the stringers form guides for the proper spacing of the pickets on the stringers.

When the fence is to be erected on a grade or incline the pickets may be readily adjusted relatively to the stringers, so as to assume a vertical position as they may be turned upon their supporting-studs acting as pivots, the construction of clamp with flaring or beveled apertures and the elongated slots in the stringers permitting of this adjustment, as will be readily understood.

It is obvious that instead of forming these studs 0 on the clamp-section C, and providing the pickets with recesses b, these studs 0 may be formed on the pickets and the clampsection C provided with a recess; aml it will be further understood that pickets of any desired orpreferred shape may be employed in conjunction with this clamp by simply making the aperture 0 to conform to the outer shape of the picket. I therefore do not wish to limit myself to a clampfor round or square pickets only.

It will also be seen that these recesses or lugs on the picket, which serve as a gage or guide, may be applied to pickets for ornamental or other fences, for the purpose of leveling or aligning the same, either in combination with a clamping device or the stringer itself.

The top plate of the clamping device may also be provided with a head around the apertures c, or with any other desired ornamentation.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

I. In a punched-rail fence, the combination, with a stringer having suitable picket-openings and a picket, of a two-part clamp having its faces surrounding the picket beveled down ward to form a knife-edge and permit lateral movement of said picket, substantially as described, tor the purpose specified.

2. In a punched-rail fence, a picket and a cross-rail or stringer, thelatterhavinga picketopening slightly larger than the diameter of the picket, in combination with a two-part clamp, U 0, adapted to fit tightly around the picket, and having its edges beveled downward, and means to support said picket pivotally on the stringer to permit lateral motion, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

3. In a punched-rail fence, at cross-rail provided with picket-openings, and a picket provided with a recess, b, of a two-part clamp, U 0, having the edges of its picket-opening beveled downward, one section of which is provided with a stud, 62, serving as a pivot for said picket, to permit its being moved laterally, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

4. In a punched-rail fence,the combination, with the slotted stringer and a picket pro vided with a recess, 1;, of a two-part clamp, U (1', one section of which is provided with a pivot, and clamping-lugs, and the other section with a pendent bearing-plate or abutment for said picket, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

5. The two-part clamp (J G, constructed to form the aperture 0, having downwardly-inclined or beveled bearing-edges, and provided with pendent ears 0, bearing-plate c and stud c, constlucted and operating substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 100 in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN G. DEVOE.

Witnesses:

GEo. A. BATESON, WM. SIFERD. 

